Todd Bridges and his late-co-star Gary Coleman had breakout roles on the 1980s series “Diff’rent Strokes.” The two played Willis and Arnold Jackson, two young Black brothers adopted by a wealthy white businessman after their mother, his former housekeeper, passed away. The cast included the businessman’s teen daughter — portrayed by the ill-fated Dana Plato — and a wisecracking white housekeeper.  Todd Bridges opens up about receiving hate mail on “Diff’rent Strokes.” (Photo: Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage) During the show’s eight-season run, it drew millions weekly after its fall 1978 debut, moving from NBC to ABC for its final season as ratings declined. In an Aug. 16 episode of “Taboo’s Comics Kicks,” Bridges explained that before the show eventually succeeded, it wasn’t well received by everyone at first. ‘You’re Treated Like You’re Ignorant’: ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ Star Todd Bridges Recalls Facing ‘Extreme Racism’ During His Teen Stardom After Taboo from Black Eyed Peas group sang the praises of “Diff’rent Strokes,” Bridges revealed what it was really like when the show first started.  “Back then, you know, we got hate mail from both sides,” he said. A stunned Taboo responded, “What?” Bridges explained, “We got hate mail from whites. We got hate mail from blacks. They were like, ‘I can’t believe you’re hugging a white man,’ and then white people are like, ‘you shouldn’t be hugging a, you know, Black kids.’” Different Strokes. Todd Bridges, Dana Plato, Conrad Bain and Gary Coleman.Sadly all have passed except for Todd Bridges. Conrad Bain (February 4, 1923 – January 14, 2013) was born on this date 97 years ago. R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/xQ8FjqlCzn— spacewoman reporter (@SpacewomanR) February 4, 2020 In the “Diff’rent Strokes” series, the wealthy businessman, Phillip Drummond, had a white daughter named Kimberly Drummond, whom the boys became friends with. There were scenes of Philip and Kimberly embracing Willie and Arnold. But apparently the hate didn’t last forever. Viewers just needed to give the show a chance. “After about a couple of months, everyone fell in love with the show,” Bridges explained. “They realized that it’s about love. It’s not about anything else, you know? It’s about caring for people and about acceptance.” One fan responded to Bridges’ recollection of the backlash by saying, “Wasn’t that the 1980’s? I bet there are places, today where the same thing still happens.” Someone else said, “I can’t imagine going through that kind hate because your skin is a different color. Since God made all of the different skin colors how does one group think their’s is better? Yet this many years later racism is still going on.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by 70s.80s.90s. (@70s.80s.90s__) Bridges claimed that wasn’t the only way racism affected them on “Diff’rent Strokes.” Last year, he appeared on the “Allison Interviews” podcast where he talked about advocating for Black crew members. “Me and Gary Coleman were the only black people on a show that time and we had no black crew members,” he said in 2025. “And then I started speaking up, and they finally got Black crew members.” He added, “We got a Black director, finally, so all this happened, where it was making us feel a lot better because we had people around us.” Bridges is currently the only living actor from the main cast of “Diff’rent Strokes.”  The sitcom was the 61-year-old’s major start in the industry; he wasn’t just some random kid who became an actor.  His father, James Bridges Sr., was a talent agent. His mother, Betty A. Bridges, played Mrs. Nelson in the show “What’s Happening” and appeared in “Good Times” as Charlene. Betty was also a manager.  After the family moved to Los Angeles, Bridges was cast in dozens of commercials before he booked his first acting gig at age 7. ‘They Realized’: ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ Star Todd Bridges Says He Took Heat From ‘Both Sides’ Over What Happened Inside the Drummond Home ...read more read less